Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Spark Plugs

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Good news!  The days when drivers had to change their spark plugs every couple of years has ended.  Back in the day, spark plugs really did wear out that often.  Now, a couple of things are different…

First, spark plugs have a better design and are made of better materials that last longer for drivers.  The second reason spark plugs used to have to be changed more often is because carbon deposits would build up in them when fuel wasn’t burned completely and foul them up.  But with modern engine management controls that doesn’t happen as often.

Engine control computers precisely time when fuel is injected into the engine and when the spark plugs fire.  Unless something is wrong, spark plugs just don’t misfire as often now.

Electricity from the battery goes into a coil that allows power to build up to anywhere from 12,000 to 45,000 volts, depending on the vehicle.  The engine management computer tells the coil when to release the power to the spark plug.  The electricity travels through a wire from the coil to the spark plug.  At the tip of the plug, a spark jumps between two electrodes and ignites the gas in the combustion chamber.

Some engines have more than one coil.  Coils wear out and need to be replaced occasionally.  Also, spark plug wires can wear out and need to be replaced.  Modern engines in vehicles are delivering more power and better fuel economy all the time.  That’s largely credited to fast engine control computers, advanced sensors, electronic ignition and improvements to the lowly spark plug.  It will be interesting to see where future developments take us.

One last thought…it’s important to have the right kind of spark plug for your vehicle.  Because engines are designed to run with different internal temperatures, spark plugs have different designs that work properly within those temperatures.  Your service adviser at Express Car Care will be able to get the right plugs for your vehicle and be able to advise you as to when you should replace your spark plugs as well.

Tire Service in Denver

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For most people buying tires can be a big deal, so play it safe and consult with your friendly and knowledgeable tire professional about the proper size, type and grade for your driving needs.  He can help you balance load requirements, performance, durability and cost.

It’s always best to replace both tires on the same axle when purchasing new tires, in order to keep the rolling diameter as close as possible.  Drivers with four-wheel drive vehicles should replace all four tires at the same time because they can run into problems if the tires have different rolling diameters due to wear or different types of tires.  Four-wheel drive vehicles should have all tires very close to the same rolling diameter to avoid binding and wheel hop between the front and rear axles.

Tire manufacturers also recommend that if you are buying just two new tires that they be installed on the rear for safer slippery road traction – regardless of which wheels drive the vehicle.  Express Car Care has you covered for all of your tire service in Denver needs including tire repair, tire mounting, and wheel balancing.

Simple Answers About Alignment

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Question:  How do I know when I need a wheel alignment?

Express Car Care Answer:  When Denver drivers wheels are properly aligned, they point in the same direction.  When they are out of alignment, most drivers notice a couple of things.  First, the vehicle pulls to one side when driving.  It can be slight or pretty severe.  If your wheels have been out of alignment for a while, you’ll also start to see uneven tire wear – the shoulder on either the outside or inside of the tire is worn down more than the other.

There are many steering and suspension components that are joined together.  Everyday driving can cause a drivers wheels to go out of alignment over time just from the joints loosening up.  That’s why a simple alignment check is recommended every couple of years.  Depending on where you live or the conditions you drive in ( off-road driving, harsh winter conditions, poor pavement, etc.) an alignment inspection every year may be necessary.

Suspension and steering components wear over time as well, which can lead to alignment issues for drivers.  Of course, hitting a curb or pothole can knock a wheel out of alignment or damage a steering or suspension part.

Your friendly and knowledgeable service adviser will check your tires for uneven wear.  The type of wear provides clues to what might be wrong.  Parts located under the car are inspected for wear or damage.  An alignment machine will provide a reading of how each wheel is aligned.  The reading is compared with the alignment settings and then makes the necessary adjustments and repairs to bring your wheel back into alignment.

Due to the size of our shop, we don’t have the equipment to provide alignment service, but we can recommend quality shops that do provide this necessary service.

Putting off a wheel alignment can be dangerous because of tire wear, a bad alignment can chew through a tire pretty quickly.  If you see uneven tire wear, or if your steering wheel is off center, or your vehicle pulls to one side, ask your service adviser about getting an alignment check.

Finding Vehicle Recall Info in Denver

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No matter how well they’re made, vehicles will have design or manufacturing problems.  And when the government thinks a problem is  really serious, they require the manufacturer of the vehicle to issue a recall notice and to repair the vehicle at no charge to the owner. The manufacturer has to try to contact everyone who owns that type of vehicle so they can get the recall work done.

These recalls always affect the safety of the drivers, so Denver residents should always take them seriously.  It’s not a difficult process to see if a vehicle has a recall.

The US government has links on its websites, such as http://www.nhtsa.gov 

There are many websites with free recall information and searches. To name a few:   carfax.com, autobytel.com and dmv.org.

Recalls are serious, but not all that common.  Sometimes there are less significant issues….when these occur a Technical Service Bulletin , or TSB, is issued.  This tells Denver auto service centers how to repair a frequent or difficult problem.

The automotive pros at Express Car Care in Denver get updated information through subscription plans, which can also be available in consumer versions for a reasonable cost.

So if you find yourself with a vehicle recall, get the work done at Express Car Care and keep you and yours safe.

 

 

New Fuel Filter?

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Hello Denver drivers.  Today’s Express Car Care auto care post is focusing on your fuel filter.  Is it time for a new fuel filter?

When the fuel your engine is getting isn’t clean, your fuel injectors can start to become clogged and the engine on your vehicle may not get the proper amount of fuel at the correct pressure to run efficiently.  This hurts your fuel economy as well as your vehicle’s performance and can also lead to the buildup of harmful deposits on valves and in the combustion chamber.

This is the reason why all vehicles sold in Colorado come equipped with a fuel filter.  The job of the filter is to clean out the small pieces of dirt and contamination.  Of course, the filter will eventually get clogged up and need to be replaced.  Fuel filters for diesel cars need to be replaced more frequently than those that run on regular gasoline.

If your fuel filter is clogged, the engine can’t get all the fuel it needs, and it may sputter at high speeds or quick acceleration.  These could be signs you might  need a new fuel filter.  You may also find that you need to get a new fuel filter more frequently as your vehicle ages.  Over the years, additional sediment and rust accumulates in your fuel tank and can be drawn into the fuel system.  Your fuel filter is the part that stands guard at the gates to your engine, to protect parts and to maintain performance and fuel economy.  If you would like more information on this subject, call us at Express Car Care at 303-691-2760.

Question on Your Transmission

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Express Car Care Tech Question:
My name is Suzanne.  We were taking a camping trip at our favorite state park over a three day weekend.  About halfway to our campsite, the transmission went out on our vehicle.  It took all weekend to get it towed out and to get back home.  What can I do to prevent transmission problems in the future?

Express Car Care Answer:  Transmission repairs can be expensive at auto service centers.  On top of that, Suzanne was in the back country, her vacation weekend turned into three days of car repairs.

First of all, vehicle transmissions are tough and durable.  All that needs to be done to maintain them is to replace the transmission fluid on schedule.  The fluid gets contaminated with bits of clutch plates and metal.  Dirty transmission fluid under pressure acts like liquid sandpaper, eating away at important gaskets and seals.  Then your transmission doesn’t shift as well.  It can start to leak and overheat, and then you could end up in a situation like Suzanne.

Another thing to consider:  if you carry heavy loads, or are towing a trailer on the highway or up mountain passes, your transmission is working much harder and running hotter than under normal conditions.  Your transmission fluid may need to be changed sooner.  Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for your severe service schedule or talk with your helpful and knowledgeable pros about when you should have your transmission serviced.  If you’re planning a trip that you know you will be doing some towing or other severe driving, make sure to have your transmission fluid checked before you head out.  It’s always better to be safe, rather than sorry.

Trust Your Vehicle to Us

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Your vehicle is much more to you than a transportation appliance.  It gets you to work, helps you take care of errands, goes on dates, and takes you on vacations.  You could almost say it’s part of the family, or maybe a business partner.  You rely on your vehicle for so many things.  We understand how important your car or truck is to your life.  And we want you to know that you can trust your vehicle to us.  You can rely on us to do all that we can to keep you safely on the road.

We put special focus on preventative maintenance.   Taking care of the routine things is what will help your vehicle last longer, perform consistently, retain its safety, and help prevent breakdowns and repairs.  You can trust your vehicle to us when it’s sidelined.  We’ll do everything we can to get it back in the game as quickly as possible.

To us, keeping your trust requires investing in our employees, their training, and equipment.  When we do that, we can keep our promise of high-quality, convenient service and repair that’s done right the first time.

We appreciate the confidence you have in us and we want to continue to earn it every time you bring your vehicle in for service.  We’d like for you to think of us first for all your car care needs.

Rotate Your Tires

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Rotate Your TiresTire rotation is an important maintenance duty that extends the life of your tires and ensures safe driving.  Let’s take a look at this simple and effective procedure.

The main reason to rotate your tires is because the front and rear tires wear differently.  Think about it, parallel parking, three-point turns, with each turn of the steering wheel there is pressure put on the front tires.  This is even more true for front-wheel drive vehicles.  Resistance causes friction, friction produces heat.  The result?  The front tires will wear quicker than the rear.  Because of this, it’s necessary to rotate your tires front-to-rear several times during their life cycle.

The best indicator that it’s time to rotate your tires is uneven tread wear.  If you look closely at your tires, is the inside or outside of one tire showing more wear than the other?  Because the weight of a car isn’t evenly distributed to all four corners, uneven tread wear is unavoidable.  Most engines are located in the front of the vehicle and since the engine is the heaviest thing in it, the front tires carry more weight.  All of these factors contribute to the front tires wearing out faster than the rear tires.  When we rotate the tires, each tire is being moved to a different corner of the car to make it possible for them to wear more evenly.  Other indicators that the tires need to be rotated are poor handling when braking your vehicle, or poor tire traction in wet or slippery road conditions.

A general rule of thumb for rotating tires is every 3,000 to 7,000 miles.  But your vehicle’s manufacturer’s manual will have recommended rotation times.  Keeping a log of when you’ve had tire rotations can help you stay up to date.  Keep the log in your glove compartment for a quick and easy reference.

Proper Grade of Gas

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Proper Grade of GasThere are a lot of misconceptions about fuel grades-and by fuel grades, I mean, the octane rating.  Names like “Standard”, “Super”, “Plus”, and “Premium”, lead people to believe that the octane rating/grade is associated with quality.  Octane ratings are expressed as a number that typically ranges from 87 to 91 at the pump.  The number doesn’t mean “better” but rather signifies the appropriate grade of fuel for a particular engine.

Octane is a measure of gasoline’s ability to resist igniting before the spark plug goes off.  Gasoline and air are compressed in the engine’s combustion chamber.  When the pressure reaches a certain point, the gas will spontaneously ignite.  You don’t want that to happen; you want the spark plug to ignite the fuel at precisely the right time.  When the gas ignites prematurely, the piston will try to go down while it is still being pushed up by the crank shaft and you will hear a pinging or knocking sound.  That sound is metal banging into other metal which isn’t suppose to happen.  As you can imagine, this can lead to expensive damage.

Because engines have different designs, they have different compression ratios.  An engine with a high compression ratio needs gasoline with a higher octane rating to prevent premature combustion.  Also, turbo-charged or super-charged engines have higher pressure in the engine and often require higher octane gas.  The bottom line is that your vehicle has a recommended octane rating – often on a sticker in the gas cap area – and you should always use at least the octane number recommended.  Using a lower octane rating than recommended could cause engine damage.  Using a higher octane rating than recommended won’t have any noticeable power of efficiency benefit in modern engines.

Now, just because the octane number doesn’t measure quality, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a quality difference in gasoline.  The government mandates that all gas have a minimum level of detergent added to keep the engine and critical fuel system, and emission components, clean and operating efficiently over the long haul.  Top tier gasoline will have many times the minimum level of detergent.  To give you an idea of how important that is, all U.S. automakers use top tier gasoline in their government mandated 100,000 mile durability tests.  Good quality fuel is critical to long life of engine components.

No matter what kind of gasoline you use, there will be some carbon build up on your valves, pistons, fuel injectors, etc.  This is especially prevalent on the intake valves of the GDI (gasoline direct injection) engines that are found in more and more vehicles today.  Because the gas is injected directly into the combustion chamber in these engines and the detergents in the fuel don’t wash over the intake valves, a professional fuel system cleaning is needed to clean and restore the efficiency of this fuel system and to keep your fuel economy up.

Ask your service adviser it it’s time for a professional fuel system cleaning.

 

Oxygen Sensor

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Oxygen SensorMany people hear the term “Oxygen Sensor” and figure it must have something to do with sensing oxygen, but don’t really know much beyond that.  Let’s break it down:  your vehicle has an oxygen sensor in the exhaust manifold that measures how much unburned oxygen there is in the exhaust.  The sensor reports its findings to the engine control unit (ECU), which knows how much oxygen there should be in the exhaust.  Based on that information, the ECU will adjust the amount of fuel it sends to the engine.

This feedback and adjustment loop continues non-stop.  The goal is to have the optimal air to fuel ratio for performance, efficiency, and to lower harmful emissions.

There is a second oxygen sensor located in the exhaust pipe behind the catalytic converter.  It too measures the amount of oxygen in the exhaust, after it has been treated by the catalytic converter.  As the measurement is reported back to the ECU, the computer compares the oxygen levels before and after the catalytic converter to determine if the converter is still functioning properly.

So, 4-cylinder vehicles have two oxygen sensors.  V-6 and V-8 engines have four sensors, two for each bank of cylinders.  As you can imagine, the oxygen sensor lives and functions in a pretty hot environment so they will wear out over time.  Substances in the exhaust can also damage them leading to failure.  Outside elements like water and road salt can corrode an oxygen sensor and when the sensor goes bad it needs to be replaced.

You may be interested to know that oxygen sensors are often replaced needlessly.  When the oxygen sensor returns a measurement that is out of the specified range, it may trigger a trouble code in the ECU and the check engine light is illuminated.  Inexperienced do-it-yourselfers or part store employees may misinterpret a trouble code that reports an out of range sensor reading.  That could mean that the sensor is bad, but it could also mean that the sensor is accurately reporting a condition caused by some other malfunction.  A skilled diagnostician can sort this out and will only replace the oxygen sensor when it has truly gone bad.

When you have a check engine light come on and stay on, it’s good advice to have it checked out by a qualified service technician at Express Car Care.  The cause may be minor or quite significant, so it’s best to play it safe and let the professionals check it out.

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

Auto Tips & Tricks